diff --git a/package/python-pyicu/python-pyicu.mk b/package/python-pyicu/python-pyicu.mk
index 512b2f857f..53e4a15c4f 100644
--- a/package/python-pyicu/python-pyicu.mk
+++ b/package/python-pyicu/python-pyicu.mk
@@ -12,4 +12,10 @@ PYTHON_PYICU_LICENSE_FILES = LICENSE
 PYTHON_PYICU_DEPENDENCIES = icu
 PYTHON_PYICU_SETUP_TYPE = setuptools
 
+PYTHON_PYICU_ENV += \
+	ICU_VERSION="`$(PKG_CONFIG_HOST_BINARY) icu-i18n --modversion`" \
+	PYICU_CFLAGS="`$(PKG_CONFIG_HOST_BINARY) icu-i18n --variable=CXXFLAGS`" \
+	PYICU_LFLAGS="`$(PKG_CONFIG_HOST_BINARY) icu-i18n --libs-only-L` \
+		`$(PKG_CONFIG_HOST_BINARY) icu-i18n --libs-only-l`"
+
 $(eval $(python-package))